My first proper holiday in well over a year started with a relaxing train ride up from London during the afternoon, so I had the benefit of wonderful scenery, particularly north of Newcastle when the tracks hug the Northumberland coast with views of the slate grey North Sea pounding the beaches and weather beaten castles interspersed on promontories and headlands. On arrival in Edinburgh I dug out Read on...
In the morning we were picked up by our new driver and agency. We had a long drive ahead of us as we drove out to Sayram Lake. Covid tests and police checks continued to be a dampener on the enjoyment. We travelled a road that used to be closed in the depths of winter due to snow drifts and storms. It now has a new elevated bridge that to my eyes was more exposed to the weather but we were told ke Read on...
Where do I start? How do you cover the amount of time we have been back in the US? Yes, we left Tsamaya in Turkey and flew back to the US on October 29, 2019. Yes, it is now July 2021 and we are still here. This is definitely not what was planned, but that seems to be the rule for all due to the outbreak of covid.
To start, when we first arrived back in the US, we found that we were definitely no Read on...
Huge, wooden waterwheel. The work was used to drain the mine as well as to power other devices. Water was carried by an aqueduct from the nearby hills.
From the lapis lazuli mines in Afghanistan 8000 years ago, to rare earth elements mined in contemporary China, mining monopolies have played a crucial role in the development and wealth accumulation of entire regions. In XVII century a single mine Read on...
Our final day of hiking up was here. Today, we would reach Everest Base Camp! Today was the first day I took a full diamox pill in the morning due to the increased elevation. It was going to be a long day, so I was trying to mentally prepare myself, but this was the first day that I was not feeling 100 percent. We were to hike about 3 hours to Gorak Shep, have lunch, say good bye to porters, conti Read on...
Le soleil se lve sur le Josas en ce mercredi 27 octobre. Le ciel dgag, la temprature monte 17ºC et le vent souffle tranquillement 8 kmh. Je suis encore Gedimat. Voici deux belles aventures.
Je me souviens dun voyage relativement aventureux effectu jadis de ma famille. Il sagit dune traverse de la Malaisie en bus. lge de 9 ans peine, cela signifiait bien sr un dpaysement significatif. Partant Read on...
We left Longreach & split into 2 groups. Keith & Bryan definitely didnt want to do recently flooded tracks (we had heard some stories & were a bit apprehensive as well) also needed to be in Melbourne by 29th. Ian, Brenton & I wanted to give some of the back roads a go & also decided to go South to Barrington Tops then back North to Brisbane & fly home from there. Vague plan is to do Tasmania next, Read on...
Golestan Palace Gulistan), Tehran, in 1971. View of the Marble Throne Building Marmar) of 1759 and reflecting pool. The Ministries of Finance and Justice are behind it. Iran038p1
In the summer of 1971 I traveled to Iran with the Los Angeles Geographical Society. A Pan Am flight took us from Los Angeles to London for a connecting BOAC flight on to Tehran. A long flight, but I was very much up f Read on...
Je vous confirme que les Suisses ne paraissent pas trs concerns par les mesures de prcaution contre le covid. Jai mang hier au soir sur le quai touristique, juste en bas de mon htel, sur les terrasses les tables ne sont pas particulirement espaces, aucun serveurs ne portent de masque, le mme menu pour tous les clients, et aprs le dpart des clients, juste un coup dponge sur la table. Heureusement q Read on...
Monday – guess what we did? Yes, spent ALL day in the great outdoors. We probably arrived at the Esterro Llano State Park around 10, and left at 5:15. It was a cool drizzly/misty day, but we managed without putting the umbrella up 99% of the time.
We found a whopping SIX new birds for us – which is astounding with the diminishing returns of already finding so many. And we chatted with people Read on...